Wire rope-making machine



April 7, 1953 w. T. M CREADIE WIRE ROPE'MAKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 1'7, 1948 April 7, 1953 w. T. M CREADIE 2,633,692

WIRE ROPE-MAKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 17,1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 g IN VEN TOR.

hm. 7? 7m M,

April 7, 1953 w. T. M CREADIE 2,633,692

WIRE ROPE-MAKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 17, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 94 9/ 89 f Ill/11m IN VEN TOR. 2216 A 3t @1414;

April 7, 1953 w. T. M CREADIE 2,633,692

WIRE ROPE-MAKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 17, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I IZZ f 7 Thaw 6mm Patented Apr. 7, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WIRE ROPE-MAKING MACHINE William T. MacCreadie, Lewisburg, Pa.

Application November 17, 1948, Serial No. 60,487

3 Claims.

This invention is a wire rope-making machine and may be particularly termed a high speed strander.

This invention combines a tube or drum strander and a twister arranged in such manner that a multiple lay is made with each turn of the machine, provision being made for a proper turn back.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a strander using, in combination, a tube strander and a twister, so associated with one another as to produce multiple twists in the strand, thereby increasing production without increasing the speed of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for associating a tube or drum strander with a twister so as to bring about the desired results.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby a tube, drum or other strander may be combined with a twister in such manner that one of these machines will be operated in a direction the reverse of the other.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawing, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a tube or drum stranding machine,

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a twistermachine,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a similar'view of the machine shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially upon line 5-5 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section taken through a part of the machine shown in Fig. l,

- Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view through one end of the haul-off device.

. Figure 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of one .end of the wind-up section of the machine,

Fig. 9 is a similar view of the opposite end of the wind-up section,

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a Reeves transmission mechanism showing its association with the present machine,

' Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially upon line I l--llv of Fig. 2,

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevation showing a conventional reversing mechanism,

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a modified form of bobbin carriage.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary side elevation of the tube or drum strander and illustrating as applied thereto the modified form of bobbin carriage as shown in Fig. 13, and

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view of a part of the haul-01f frame and showing a slight modification.

The machine consists essentially in a strander, preferably of the tube or drum type, associated with a wind-up commonly used in a twister, the latter operating in a direction opposite to that of the strander. The strand produced by the tube or drum strander passes in its finished form from the same to a twister operating in the reverse direction, which twister includes a wind-up bobbin to receive the finished strand.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 3 thereof, l5 represents an elongated barrel or tube of hol- 10w construction supported for rotation upon rollers l6 mounted in brackets ll carried by the bed I8 of the machine. This drum is provided at one end (Fig. 6) with an axially disposed stub shaft l9 rotatably mounted in a bearing 20, the outer end of the said stub shaft having rigidly secured thereto a sprocket wheel 2 I. This sprocket wheel has a chain 22 passing thereover and also around sprocket 23 afiixed to the shaft 24 of a motor 25 constituting the source of power for the machine.

' Arranged within the drum and adjacent to the power receiving end thereof is a bobbin carriage 26 having trunnions 21 and 28 at its ends rotatably mounted axially of the drum in webs 29 constituting a part of the drum or tube l5. The trunnion 21 has affixed thereto a gear 30 in mesh with the teeth of a gear 3| carried by shaft 32 rotatably supported within the drum i5, which shaft also has affixed thereto a gear 33 whose teeth are in mesh with the teeth of gear 34 afiixed to or forming a part of the stationary bearing 20. It is apparent from this construction that rotation of sprocket 2| by the power source will cause the drum I5 to rotate, while at the same time rotary movement is also imparted to the bobbin carriage 25 by means of the gears 36, 31, shaft 32 and gears 333 l. By varying the sizes of the gears mentioned, a desired speed ratio between the cylinder or drum and the bobbin carriage may be obtained.

The trunnion 28 at the opposite end of the bobbin carriage extends through and has bearing in the adjacent web 29, and has amxed thereto a gear 39 in mesh with a gear 39 carried by shaft 3? rotatably mounted in the webs 29. The shaft 9'! also has afiixed thereto a gear 38 in mesh with gear 39 forming a part of trunnion Z'l of the next adjacent bobbin carriage 26. Bobbin carriages in any desired number may be arranged throughout the length of the cylinder or drum and intergeared in the manner described so as to rotate in unison. Three of the bobbin carriages are shown in the present instance, but it will be understood that any desired number may be employed, depending upon the number of Wires required in the completed strand.

Each of the bobbin carriages is provided with a transversely disposed bobbin shaft 99 upon which is rotatably mounted a bobbin 9| containing a wire 42. It may be desirable to provide braking means for the bobbins, in which event a brake shoe 99 affixed to a slidable spindle 99 may be used, as shown in detail in Fig. 6. This spindle is slidably seated in an axial bore 99 in the trunnion 2?, and carries a nut 95 to govern the tension of a spring 98 for obvious purposes. The brake mechanism described is conventional, and it is understood that any other desired braking or speed controlling means may be used in connection with the several bobbins.

The trunnion 28 of each bobbin carriage is provided with an axial bore or opening 49 through which passes the wire 42 from the adjacent bobbin. After passing through the bores 49 the wires lead outwardly therefrom and through suitable openings in the webs 29 and forwardly of the cylinder to the head at the opposite end thereof, through which they pass and converge as shown in Figs. 1-3 in a twister die 59 disposed in axial alignment with the cylinder or drum and mounted in the supporting posts Due to the fact that the cylinder or drum rotates, this die might be held stationary and the twisted wires pulled through in the well known manner. However, in the, present instance, this die is rotatably mounted in the supporting posts 9| and is turned in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the cylinder, whereupon an additional twist is accomplished. The die, therefore, is affixed to shaft 52 rotatably mounted in the support posts 5|, and a sprocket 53 is affixed to said shaft. A sprocket chain 54 passes over the sprocket 53 as well, as over a sprocket 55 affixed to a countershaft 56 mounted in suitable bearings El at one side of the machine. The countershaft 58 also carries a sprocket 58 over which passes a chain 59 engaged with a sprocket 69 secured to a jack shaft 6| mounted in bearings 62 beside the machine. The jack shaft 6| has afiixed thereto a gear 63 in mesh with a gear 94 secured to a shaft 65 mounted in bearing 95 at the side of the machine. The shaft 95 at its far end has aflixed thereto a sprocket 67 having a chain 63 passing thereover and also over a sprocket wheel 69 afiixed to the drive shaft 24 of the motor 25.

From this construction it is apparent that the motor 25 through the sprocket and chain connections 2l--2223 causes the drum or cylinder [5 to rotate upon its supporting rollers H5 in one direction while at the same time through the sprocket and chain connection 9'1, 68, 69 the shaft 65 is caused to rotate the twister die 59 in a direction opposite to the rotative direction of the cylinder by means of the gears and sprocket and chain connections just described.

The shaft 52 which carries the twister die 59 has a central longitudinal opening therein as will side and longitudinally of the carriage 9|.

be understood, through which the twisted strand 19 passes. This strand also passes through a 1ongitudinal opening in a trunnion 1| aligned with the twister die shaft and supported in the bearing post 72 which supports the haul-off carriage 73. This carriage has a hollow trunnion M at its opposite end (see Fig. '7) through which extends a longitudinally apertured shaft 15 having afiixed to its inner end a spur gear l6 engaged with a gear Ts secured to a shaft 18 mounted in a suitable bearing within the haul-on carriage and disposed longitudinally thereof. The shaft 19 has a bevel pinion l9 affixed thereto in mesh with a bevel gear 89 affixed to the transverse shaft 8| mounted for rotation centrally within the hauloif carriage and supporting the haul-off drum 82. The hollow trunnion i4 is rotatably supported in the bearing post 12, and has integrally or rigidly secured thereto a sprocket 83 over which passes a power chain 84 engaged with the teeth of a sprocket wheel 85 ainxed to the shaft 59. The latter shaft is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 86 at the side of the machine.

The shaft 75 with its spur gear l9 remains stationary, and to this end is afiixed at one end to a bracket 81 afiixed by a pin 88 to the bearing post 52. (See Fig. 4.)

The tube machine shown in Fig. 1 produces a completed strand ready for use as a complete cable. However, by combining the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 with the tube machine of Fig. 1, greater cable or rope making speed is obtained. The die 59 rotates in a direction opposite to the direction of twisting movement of the converging wires 42 from the tube machine, and the completed strand i9 is given a twist by the haul-off drum 92, in the same direction of rotation as the die 50 just prior to its entry to said die. It is therefore apparent that by combining the two machines in the manner described and as illustrated, a greater quantity or length of completed cable or strand is produced than has been heretofore possible with a machine of the type shown in Fig. l.

The wind-up bobbin for the completed strand or cable is indicated at 89, and rotates while being held stationary against lateral rotary movement. This bobbin is keyed to the wind-up bobbin shaft 99 rotatably mounted in the carriage 9| carried by the. rotatable. frame work or flyer 92. The carriage 9| is provided at one end (see Fig. 8) with a hollow trunnion 93 through which extends and is rotatably mounted a stub shaft 94 having affixed to its outer end a gear 95 and to its inner end a spur gear 96 in mesh with a similar gear 91 rotatably engaged in the end wall of carriage 9| and having a sprocket wheel 98 affixed to its outer end. A chain 99 passes over the sprocket wheel 98 as well as over a sprocket wheel I99 affixed to a countershaft: |0| rotatably mounted at the The inner end ofshaft |9| has affixed thereto arbevel pinion H32 in. mesh with a similar gear 193 affixed to the wind-up bobbin shaft 90. A bevel pinion 194 is secured to the inner end of a shaft I95 mounted for rotation in. suitable bearings I96 affixed to the carriage 9 I, and the outer end of shaft I95 has afl'ixed thereto a bevel pinion |91 in mesh with a similar gear I98 secured to a reversing.

screw shaft I99 rotatably mounted transversely gangsta with a hollow trunnion I I3 (see Fig. 8) which is rotatably mounted in the supporting post II4.'

This trunnion has rotatably mounted therein a sprocket gear II5 attached to or integral with a gear I I6. The gear H6 is in mesh with a similar gear I I1 secured to a shaft I I8 mounted for rotation in the frame work 92, which shaft also carries a gear I I9 in mesh with gear 95.

The outer end of the wind-up bobbin carriage 9| is provided with a hollow trunnion I22 (see Fig. 9) which is rotatably mounted in a part of the frame work 92. This trunnion is in axial alignment with the frame work, and has afiixed to the outer end thereof a gear I23 in mesh with a similar gear I24 aifixed to a shaft I25 rotatably mounted in the frame work 92 and disposed longitudinally thereof. The shaft I25 projects beyond the frame work 92 and has affixed thereto a gear I28 in mesh with a gear I21 rigidly secured to or integral with the supporting post or bearing member I28. This end of the frame work 32 is provided with a trunnion I29 rotatably mounted in the bearing post I29 and having a belt pulley I33 affixed thereto. A belt I3I passes over this pulley and also over a similar pulley I32 affixed to shaft 56 for the purpose of rotating the frame 92.

It is desirable that means be employed between the haul-01f mechanism and the wind-up mechanism to maintain the proper tension in the completed cable as it is led to the wind-up bobbin. Any desired brake or control mechanism may be employed, either friction or otherwise, but in the present instance I have illustrated a conventional Reeves transmission between the haul-off drum and the bobbin wind-up mechanism for this purpose.

Interposed between the haul-off drum B2 and the wind-up bobbin 89 is the Reeves transmission represented generally at RT. This transmission includes a pair of coacting cone pulleys I33-I34 keyed as at I35 for longitudinal sliding movement upon shaft 56. The transmission also includes a jack shaft I35 spaced from and parallel to shaft 56 similarly equipped with coacting cone pulleys I31-I38 keyed for sliding movement upon said jack shaft as at I39. A belt I40 passes over the pulleys I33-I34 and I31-I38. The shaft I36 is provided at one end with a sprocket I4I, over which passes a chain I42 engaged with the sprocket wheel H5 affixed to the gear IIG. It is apparent, therefore, that rotary movement of shaft 53 will operate belt I49 to jack shaft I33 which, in turn, through sprockets I4I-I I5 and chain I42 will cause the shaft II8 to rotate and to transmit power to bobbin 89.

The cable 19 as it leaves the haul-off drum 82 passes through the hollow shaft 15 and through the hollow trunnion II3 to the interior of the frame work 92. A guide pulley I43 secured to the frame work 92 leads the cable 19 laterally of the frame work 92 and over a guide pulley I44 from whence the cable passes outwardly and longitudinally of the frame work 92 to a guide pulley Hi5, then inwardly toward the center of the drum and over guide pulley I46 and through a hollow trunnion I41 rotatably mounted in the frame 92 and forming the outer support for the carriage III. The cable then passes between the guides II2 of the traveller and onto the wind-up bobbin 89.

The Reeves transmission includes means for governing the speed of the machine in accordance with the tension of the cable leading from the haul-off drum to the wind-up bobbin. As shown particularly in Figs. 2, 4 and 10, the

. 6 sliding movements of and I31-I38 are governed by rocking movements of the bars I50 and I5I. These bars, arranged in spaced parallel relationship, are pivoted intermediate their ends as at I52 within the frame of the transmission, and their ends en gage the rear faces of the cone pulleys. Rocking movement of these bars, therefore, will permit the cooperating cone pulleys at one end of the casing or frame to move apart, while the cooperating cone pulleys at the opposite end of the frame are moved toward one another. A toggle lever I53 is connected to an upstanding oscillatory shaft I54 pivoted in the frame of the transmission, and the upper end of this shaft has attached thereto an arm I55, to the opposite ends of which links I56 and I51 connect the said arm with the members I50 and I5I respectively.

A weight I58 has an eye I59 through which the cable loosely passes, and this weight has pivotally connected thereto one arm of a bell crank lever I60, the opposite arm IGI of which is connected with a rock lever I62 pivoted as at I63 to the bearing post II4, the lower end of the rock lever I62 being connected by a link I34 with the inner end of the toggle lever I53.

From the foregoing it is apparent that when power is applied to the machine from the motor 25, the drum or cylinder I5 will rotate and the wires 42 will unwind from their spools or bobbins to be led forwardly from the cylinder into converging relationship into the twister die 53, which die, due to the fact that it is moving in a di rection reverse from the direction of movement of the cylinder, gives an additional twist or lay to the cable because of twisting action applied to the cable by the fiyer 92 and the haul-off 13. As the cable is pulled through the twister die by the haul-off drum 82 it passes to the wind-up bobbin, and the tension will at all times be automatically maintained by the Reeves transmission, or some other tensioning device. From the tensioning device the cable passes outwardly within the frame work 92 and is then led backwardly and centrally thereof through the lapping or guide device and properly wound upon the rotating wind-up bobbin. It is apparent that the drum or cylinder machine brings about a first twisting of the wires into a completed cable, whereupon the die rotating in a reverse direction imposes upon the cable an additional twist before it passes through the die. Since these combined machines rotate in opposite directions, two twists are produced for every turn of the machines.

In Figs. 13 and 14 of the drawing, there is illustrated a modified form of bobbin and carriage which may be substituted for the bobbins M in the cylinder or drum I5. In this modification, the bobbin 4Ia is rotatably supported in a drop center carriage I10 pivoted at I19 in the bobbin carriage 29 so that the center of gravity of the carriage is below the median line of the cylinder. Because of this construction, the carriage remains at all times in an upright position. The wire 42 passes from the bobbin rearwardly and over guide pulleys I1I, I12, I13 and I14, from whence they pass through a hollow trunnion I15 to a guide pulley I16, thence to a similar pulley I11 near the outer periphery of the cylinder or drum. The wire then leads forwardly of the cylinder or drum and to the twisting die in the manner heretofore described.

In Fig. 15 of the drawings there is shown a the cone pulleys I33-I34 further modification. In the preferred form of the invention, the twister die 50 is shown as being specially driven from the shaft 56. A special drive for the twister die, however, may be dispensed with. In Fig. 15 the haul-off frame 13 is shown as having the twister die 59 afiixed to the hollow supporting trunnion H It is obvious, therefore, that as rotation of the haul-off frame or cradle 13 is in a direction opposite to the direction. of rotation of the cylinder 15, the twister die will give the additional twist after a special drive connection.

I claim:

1. In a rope making machine, means for twisting a plurality of wires into a cable, a die to receive said cable, means for rotating said die in a direction opposite to the direction of cabling twist of said wires, means beyond said die for giving a twist to said cable as it enters said die, and a wind-up bobbin to receive the cable from said die.

2. In a rope making machine, means for twisting a plurality of strands into a cable, a die to receive said cable, means for rotating said die in a direction opposite to the direction of cabling twist of said strands and to simultaneously twist said cable in the direction of rotation of said die as it enters the latter, and means to draw said cable through said die.

3. In a rope making machine, means for twisting a plurality of strands into a cable, a die to receive said cable, means for rotating said die in a direction opposite to the direction of cabling twist of said strands, a haul-off to draw said cable through said die and to simultaneously twist said cable in the direction of rotation of said die as it enters the latter, a wind-up bobbin to receive said cable, and means for controlling the tension of said cable.

WILLIAM T. MAcCREADIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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